Angel Creek - Chapter Four

"See you next week Mom." Santhi waved as she left the Angel Creek Rehabilitation Centre a week later. "Get better alright." "Ah do it fah you love." The woman smiled tiredly as she raked her fingers through her greying hair, her southern drawl clearly noticeable as she spoke. Her accent was usually emphasized when she was tired or stressed, or in this case – going through withdrawal.
Just as Santhi was going out the door something caught her eye.
Apparently a ballet class had recently moved in next door. Santhi remembered seeing it earlier but this was the first time she had seen people inside.
Stopping to watch them she smiled gently at the graceful movements of a group who obviously knew what they were doing.
"They really are movable, huh Chris?" Santhi said, meaning to say flexible.
Silence for a moment before she said "Yeah, that too."
Her eyes scanned those in the lesson and she was surprised to see how beautiful everyone looked – even the few boys. Her gaze came to a stop at a boy around her age with sandy-blond hair.
"I'm sure I know him." She breathed, looking closer.
Their eyes locked and Santhi let out a gasp as the shocked boy tripped and fell; it was Tristan!
As other people rushed over to the boy he smiled sweetly and shook his head gently, saying something Santhi couldn't quite hear. One of the young women looked out the window and – putting two and two together – waved Santhi in. Both Santhi and Tristan shook their heads, albeit the latter shook more frantically; the lady shook her own good naturedly, saying something to Tristan and nodding in Santhi's direction.
More of a discussion later the woman clapped her hands and waved everyone away. Tristan held up one finger, a silent way to tell Santhi he would be out shortly and for her to wait. Santhi nodded and leaned against the door – again politely rejecting the offer to come in.

***

"What are you doing here?" Tristan looked shaken as he came out a short while later, still pulling his shirt over his head.
"You look good in a purple swimsuit-thingy." Santhi countered, trying to avoid the answer.
"It's called a leotard and it's lavender." Tristan blushed deeply. "What are you doing here Santh? Were you stalking me?"
"What, no! Of course not!" Santhi waved her hands wildly in front of her.
"Then what were you doing here?"
"I had…stuff to do." Santhi's eyes moved everywhere but to the boy in front.
"What sort of stuff? The only buildings still in use here are the ballet and the…rehab…" Tristan suddenly came to a realization and his expression softened. "Your mother never had a summer home, did she?"
"…She used to but we sold it after my brother passed away."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Santhi smiled but it seemed hollow. "It's okay, it was years ago. I was barely even in school if that. Besides, it wasn't your fault." Her expression changed to that of mock suspicion. "It wasn't, right?"
"Of course it wasn't!" Tristan looked at Santhi in shock and the girl laughed.
"Then why apologise then?" Santhi generally used humour to hide hurt and dispel tension.
Tristan was silent a while before he began to walk indicating for Santhi to follow. Sucking on his lip he looked at the ground.
"Promise you won't tell anyone?" He pleaded. "Not even Lexi." He added as she opened her mouth.
"Please Santh, I couldn't take it if anyone knew, especially my father!"
"It's okay, I won't tell anyone." Santhi had to resist the urge to add the fact she hadn't told anyone Alexis' secret. She wanted to prove that she was trustworthy but knew that particular way would only be redundant.
"Hey T, why have you been so cold to Ali and me?" Santhi chose to change the subject.
"Have I?" Tristan was surprised the girl who seemingly never noticed anything actually observed something he thought was subtle. Maybe she was more perceptive than she let on?
"Yeah. Ever since a few months ago when we started going out – me and Ali I mean… Tristan, do you like me?"
Tristan looked at her in surprise. "I was sure you would assume I liked Lexi." He admitted.
"Just because you like to dance doesn't mean you're automatically gay." Santhi paused. "…Are you?"
Tristan blushed deeply as he stopped walking, blinking back tears. Turning back, San looked confused and then guilty.
"You do, don't you?"
Tristan nodded, a choked sob being his only response. He was certain Santhi would make fun of him, maybe tell Alexis. Everyone would shun him and… Why wasn't she laughing at him? Tristan slowly raised his head to look at the girl.
"I'm sorry Tristan, I didn't realize. If I had I wouldn't have… Gosh you must think I'm so rude!"
"Why do you think that?" Tristan's tears stopped as he looked at the girl in confusion.
"Because I never figured you – you know – and it's made everything worse."
"You don't…hate me?"
"Of course not! Why should I? You're just gay – it's not like you killed anyone."
"Just gay!?" Tristan's jaw dropped open. "My Papa kicked my sister out when he found out she was a lesbian!"
Rochelle's twin Thaliana had left at the age of fifteen after her father had caught her kissing another girl and kicked her out. "I will not have faggots ruining my family." He had said. Tristan had been five at the time and it wasn't until much later he found out that a faggot wasn't some catchy disease.
"Oh wow, that's terrible." Santhi looked like she was about to cry. If there was one thing she hated it was narrow-minded people.
They continued walking in silence before Santhi clicked her fingers in triumph.
"Why don't I move in, say I'm your girlfriend?"
"Are you nuts?! What about Lexi?"
"I already told him I was going home tomorrow. It's only a small detour."
Tristan sighed. Santhi had a point, despite the fact he didn't want Alexis to get jealous.
"What about Lexi?"
"We just won't tell him. I mean what's the harm in keeping one little secret? You've already kept the other one for so long and as long as he doesn't find out it's a win-win for everyone. Your Dad thinks you're straight, Lexi doesn't get jealous and I have a place to stay."
"Well, when you put it that way…" Tristan's face brightened. "Why not?"

***

"Alexis, I need to tell you something." Isabel felt guilty for not saying anything for so long.
It was Monday morning and neither Tristan nor Santhi was there at that moment. Santhi had gone to the tuck shop early and Tristan was with her.
"Yeah?" Alexis looked up at Isabel, a slight frown on his face. Whatever the girl had to say she seemed worried about.
"You and Santhi are still living together, right?"
"Not anymore, her mom is coming home today so she's going back home."
"Alexis…I…" Isabel closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. It was now or never. "I think Santhi is cheating on you."
"What? Of course she's not. I mean, why would she be?"
"I heard her talking to someone, in the bathroom. She was telling that person how much she cared about them."
"It was probably her mother; don't worry about it."
"Then why didn't she come out here and talk?"
Alexis paused. Isabel had a good point. But no, Santhi was one of his best friends – he knew enough to know she wouldn't be that sort of person. "She's probably shy about talking to her Mom in front of us."
"Possibly." Isabel's chuckle sounded forced. "Sorry Alexis. Forget I said anything."
In the ever shortening line Tristan and Santhi were also talking.
"This is not going to work. Santhi, we're going to get in so much trouble when this doesn't work."
"If this doesn't work. And don't worry, it will. Just act normal and no one will have any reason not to believe us."
"But what about Lexi, or even Isabel?"
"Hush T. It will, just stay calm already."
Santhi paused to order her and Tristan something each. It was her way of saying thanks for letting her stay at his place.
"You've told them I'm coming I hope."
"Yes, but I wasn't sure what to say about you other than what we've already decided."
As Alexis watched them he noticed they were rather close to each other and he was almost certain Santhi paid for both their lunch. 'You're being paranoid.' He told himself. 'San isn't like that.' But he just couldn't shake the thought completely from his mind.